The three companions
camp in a protected place near the south banks of the Vydra. Chonkorchuk has
had it with roughing it under the early winter sky, and as the winds begin to
blow overnight, he manages to catch cold. Plamen, younger and more compact, is
better at resisting the elements, but also sleeps more alertly. He is awakened
before dawn by the sounds of a very large person foraging not 100 feet away
from the campsite. From what it mutters to itself in a foreign tongue, Plamen
gathers that it has discovered the carcass of a boar that starved or froze to
death nearby, and it seems to be salvaging pieces of meat.
 |
| Annar - any relation to Dubynia? |
Plamen quietly
approaches and addresses the creature. He introduces himself as Annar, and says
that he has come from far away in search of Druvvaldis, and asks whether Plamen
knows him. Plamen bids him to wait, while he awakens his companions. With
Druvvaldis’ assent, he reveals that Druvvaldis is with him, and that Annar’s
search is at an end. Annar drags the boar carcass over to the fire, where
Plamen shares some of his magical berries with him. Annar looks twice his size.
He is a volot, from a family of nomadic giant riders, which came from the
steppe at the invitation of the Grand Prince of Galinda to help build his
cavalry. While in the prince’s service, he had occasion to visit the island
where Druvvaldis’ ancestral shrine stood. There, after falling asleep, he was
contacted by the spirit of the thunderlord Perkons, who told him to seek out
Druvvaldis – the last survivor of the devastation wreaked by the Knights of
Ritterheim, and the scion of a priestly family. So Annar has been traveling
east, and seeking Druvvaldis and followers of the old gods ever since.
Chonkorchuk tells him that he is also one of these, and that his mistress, Baba
Yaga, has promised that the Old Gods will soon return. After they complete the
tasks set out by her, they will be admitted to Baba Yaga’s realm. But first,
them must deal with a group of smugglers who, he says, have stolen one of Baba
Yaga’s servants. Annar is asked to join the group so that he may help it complete
its mission (and they his), and the volot accepts.
The following morning,
the four adventurers cross the Vydra, and proceed to search for the smuggler’s
cabin, which they have never seen directly. Making their way north, they
eventually discover a hedge that familiar spirits indicate surrounds a small
cabin. No one is outside, but a smoking chimney indicates that the cabin is
occupied. Attempts to sense magical auras reveals that there are two sources of
transmutative magic inside (likely indicating a pair of shapeshifters). Chonkorchuk
becomes invisible, and finds the narrow entrance through the hedge on the
eastern side. Meanwhile, the rest set up on the north side. Druvvaldis hands
Annar his scythe, and the volot prepares to mow down the hedge in case of an
assault.
The hermit alerts the
residents to his presence. A pair of shutters opens, and an arrow flies at
Chonkorchuk despite his precautions. He takes cover behind the porch, and
addresses the people inside, indicating that he is aware of Vasya Toptygin’s
presence, and demanding they release him back into the service of Baba Yaga,
from whom he was stolen. His threats and offer of cooperation to locate Lionia
gets him admitted inside, but his interlocutor – Radei Lopukh – the leader of
the smugglers – says that since Lionia defrauded them, they have nothing to
lose, and believe that Chonkorchuk’s companions are in possession of a
treasure. He offers Chonkorchuk a chance to convince Vasya, but warns that it
won’t be easy.
 |
| Vasya Toptygin performs a bear's service for his companions |
The cabin is messy,
and currently inhabited by nine rough-edged smugglers, some similar to the ones
the party defeated in the woods over a week ago, some looking more dangerous,
and better-armed. Lying on the stove against the wall opposite the doorway is a
large, one-handed man, who matches Vasya’s description. He seems considerably
less cowed by the invisible visitor than Radei – his nominal leader. In
response to Chonkorchuk’s entreaties and threats, he indicates that he has no
interest in returning to do menial labor for Baba Yaga, and would rather stay on
as the smuggler’s underling. When Chonkorchuk persists in haranguing him, Vasya
insults the hermit, accusing him of being a beggar with nothing to offer, who
comes without gifts, and is so worthless and poor he is even afraid to show his
face. He recites the insult as a rhyme, which is actually quite hurtful.
Chonkorchuk has had
enough. He exits the cabin, and plunges it into darkness, signaling to his
companions that it’s time to attack. Annar mows through the hedge, and is
greeted by blind-fire from the cabin, though on account of his size, he still
finds himself on the receiving end of darts and arrows. Behind him, Plamen sets
the cabin on fire, while Druvvaldis summons forth a badger spirit to add
ferocity to the outnumbered companions. Eventually, some of the smugglers
manage to make their way out of the cabin, and attack the volot head on. They
are no match for him, but harry him enough so that he soon decides to take
cover in the darkness. Marshalling their forces for a last stand after getting
out of the darkness, Radei and one of the other smugglers hit Chonkorchuk and
Plamen, now exposed, with expert shots from around the corner of the hut. Then,
Radei and Vasya, in the form of a bear-man, along with one other, charge the
hermit and the healer, who are no longer protected by the volot. They manage to
knock Chonkorchuk down, and to nearly upend Plamen as well. The outcome of the
battle stands on the edge of a knife, but the fefila quickly revives
Chonkorchuk, and Plamen is able to knock the bear out with his staff. The rest
are dealt with quickly. Radei manages to flee, and another smuggler is brought
down as he tries to do the same, while a third surrenders. The smuggler’s
cabin, however, has caught fire…
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